A B.C. woman who took Canada's assisted-suicide laws to the province's Supreme Court has died of a severe infection, according to B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Gloria Taylor, who had ALS, won the legal right in June to have a doctor help her die when she was ready.

According to a release from the civil liberties group, that helped her with her case, Taylor's death was unexpected. She was 64.

"Due to the acute nature and brief course of her illness from the infection, Gloria did not need to seek the assistance of a physician to end her life," the release from the group reads.

"In the end, Gloria's death was quick and peaceful and she was spared from the prolonged death from ALS that she dreaded and which inspired her participation in the lawsuit."

She died in hospital surrounded by friends and family.

In August, the federal government appealed the B.C. Supreme Court decision and an appeal hearing is scheduled for March 2013.

While Talyor was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, the civil liberties group said it will continue the case with the remaining individual plaintiffs.

"The BCCLA will continue with the lawsuit, fighting to protect Gloria's victory against government appeals," the group's litigation director Grace Pastine said in a release. "Gloria lit the torch, now we will carry it. This case is her legacy."